Chelsea set to sign USA defender Naomi Girma in world-record deal from San Diego Wave

Chelsea Women are closing in on a world-record deal for USA defender Naomi Girma.

The Blues are set to pay around £890,000 for Girma, which will make her the most expensive player in the history of the women’s game.

The previous record was around £695,000, which US side Bay FC paid Madrid CFF to sign Zambia forward Racheal Kundananji in February last year.

Girma will join Chelsea from US side San Diego Wave and is due to undergo a medical after agreeing personal terms.

The signing would represent a major coup for Chelsea, who are currently unbeaten since Sonia Bompastor replaced Emma Hayes as their head coach last summer.

Girma is widely regarded as one of the best players in the world and had been attracting interest from French champions Lyon.

The American’s arrival will bolster Chelsea’s defence for the second half of the season, which is in need of support after Kadeisha Buchanan suffered a serious knee injury in November.

Chelsea are currently top of the Women’s Super League, in the quarter-finals of the Champions League and both domestic cups.

Girma is only 24, but she has already earned 44 caps for the USA after making her debut for them back in 2022.

Hayes was full of praise for her last summer, on the way to the USA winning the gold medal at the Paris Olympics.

“She the best defender I’ve ever seen - ever,” said Hayes. “I’ve never seen a player as good as her at the back.”